Developing a Search Strategy, Searching Databases, and Searching the Web

Have a research paper due?  Don't know where to start?  The following links, worksheets and videos will help you turn your topic into key words that you can search for in academic journal databases and on the Web.  Remember, if you need any help please feel free to come to the J. S. Flipper library and ask a librarian for more assistance.

This webpage describes how to develop a search strategy:  http://libguides.nl.edu/content.php?pid=14451&sid=97045 

Worksheet for developing a search strategy:  http://library.humboldt.edu/infoservices/sstrawrksht.htm

Need help analyzing your topic?  Check out this worksheet:  http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/AnalyseTopicForm.pdf

Once you come up with your search terms, you can now search within online databases, online library catalogs, and on the Web.  Try using boolean operators to return better results.  The following video explains how to use boolean operators to your advantage:

The following video explains how to return better results while searching a topic on the Web:

Word of the Day

The Word of the Day for Wednesday, March 21st 2012 is inculpate:

in·cul·pate

 

verb (used with object), -pat·ed, -pat·ing.

1.to charge with fault; blame; accuse.

2. to involve in a charge; incriminate.

Thought of the Day

“I disapprove of what you say,
but I will defend to the death
your right to say it.”

~ Evelyn Beatrice Hall
(1868-1939)

Word of the Day

 

The Word of the Day for Friday, March 16th is mercurial:

mer·cu·ri·al

   /mərˈkyʊəriəl/ Show Spelled[mer-kyoor-ee-uhl] Show IPA

adjective

1. changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic: a mercurial nature.

2. animated; lively; sprightly; quick-witted.

3. pertaining to, containing, or caused by the metal mercury.

4. ( initial capital letter ) of or pertaining to the god Mercury.

5. ( initial capital letter ) of or pertaining to the planet Mercury

Thought of the Day

“The aim of education
should be to teach the child to think,
not what to think.”

~ John Dewey
(1859-1952)

Word of the Day. March 15th 2012

 

Sanguine

 

1 : bloodred

2a : consisting of or relating to blood b : bloodthirsty, sanguinary c of the complexion : ruddy

3 : having blood as the predominating bodily humor; also : having the bodily conformation and temperament held characteristic of such predominance and marked by sturdiness, high color, and cheerfulness

4 : confident, optimistic

Thought of the Day

The lure of the distant is deceptive.
The great opportunity is where you are.”

~ John Burroughs
(1837-1921)

Word of the Day

The Word of the Day for Wednesday, March 14th 2012 is ambivalent:

Part of speech: adjective

1. having ”mixed feelings about someone or something; being unable to choose between two (usually opposing) courses of action: The whole family was ambivalent about the move to the suburbs. She is regarded as a morally ambivalent character in the play.

 

2. Psychology . of or pertaining to the coexistence within an individual of positive and negative feelings toward the same person, object, or action, simultaneously drawing him or her in opposite directions.

Thought of the Day

“The closed mind, if closed long enough,
can be opened by nothing short of dynamite.”

~ Gerald W. Johnson
(1890-1980)

Word of the Day

The Word of the Day for Tuesday, March 13th 2012 is pragmatic:

Part of Speech: Adjective

prag·mat·ic

1. of or pertaining to a practical point of view or practical considerations.

2. Philosophy . of or pertaining to pragmatism ( def. 2 ) .

3. of or pertaining to pragmatics ( defs. 1, 2 ) .

4. treating historical phenomena with special reference to their causes, antecedent conditions, and results.

5. of or pertaining to the affairs of state or community.

Thought of the Day

“Never believe that a few caring people
can’t change the world.
For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.”

~ Margaret Mead

Word of the Day

The Word of the Day for Thursday March 1st 2010 is ephemeral:

e·phem·er·al

adjective

1. lasting a very short time; short-lived; transitory: the ephemeral joys of childhood.

2. lasting but one day: an ephemeral flower.

 

noun

3. anything short-lived, as certain insects.